Budget ideas needed

morningtreacle

Hi everyone, I have my wedding booked for NYE 2013 and sadly things have cropped up financially and as a result our budget has dwindled down to virtually nothing. I am looking for ideas and inspiration on how and what to do on a shoe string without it looking dreadful. I am not precious about a fairytale wedding (it's nothe firstw edding for us both) but I do want it to look nice and feel fun and family centred. I am getting married at 1pm at a local reg office but have no place yet for an evening reception (bad time of year to plan a budget wedding!!!)
Any advice, tips and pointers will be great!:)

graduate

A friend of mine married this year and did a number of things to save money. They paid for the hire of the venue but recruited a group of us to help the groom and their families to do all of the decorations on the day. We put out all the tables ourselves and set them. Also instead of hiring the chair covers they brought some on ebay. They said it worked out cheaper than hiring them and then they were able to sell them on again to recoup some/all of the money. Also she is very artistic so she made all the place cards and sitting plans etc herself.
The brides mother made the cake - it was a simple but very attractive design. Another friend designed the invitations for them and also made some figures which went on the cake as a present rather than paying a professional company.

74jax

I think the first thing you need to do is establish numbers - this isn't normally the the way I would go about it, however with it being NYE a lot people have there own plans.

Once you know if it's going to be 20/30/50/100 people you could maybe start working on costings.

I really don't think it will look 'dreadful' - this is a link to my 3k wedding thread https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3811691 lots of people have added their weddings and costs onto it, so have a ready through and get an idea of what people are doing to cut back in certain areas.

Would you consider having the recption at home? - that would be lovely for a NYE party. There's many home-receptions on here, but I would search Mrs Drinks as she did A LOT herself and was my inspiration.

A village hall or similar again would be a lovely idea. You have plenty of time to make the decorations etc.

I would organise yoru DJ now - or even source some disco lighting and hook up an ipod.

But best of all remember, you're planning to spend the rest of your lives together, what you spend shouldn't make you feel bad, try not to feel as though 'I could have had that' etc. but focus on what you do have and how it will reflect you both as a couple.